Reproducing system and reproduction method, and data transmission device and data transmission method

ABSTRACT

A reproduction player ( 10 ) comprising a packet processing unit ( 14 ) for allowing A/V data reproduced from a recording medium by a disc reproducing unit ( 12 ) and an encoder ( 13 ) to be packet data so that communication packet is provided, and for inserting additional information indicating operating state of the reproduction player ( 10 ) into the communication packet, and a remocon ( 20 ) comprising a packet processing unit ( 25 ) for taking out additional information along with A/V data from communication packet that a receiving unit ( 24 ) has received, an output unit ( 21 ) for externally outputting music and/or image on the basis of the A/V data, and a display unit ( 22 ) for displaying operating state of the reproduction player ( 10 ) on the basis of the additional information are used to constitute a reproducing system which reproduces music and/or video data. User can recognize, on the real time basis, the state of the unit of the transmitting side which reproduces A/V data at an remote output equipment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a reproducing system and a reproducing methodfor reproducing music and/or video data, and a data transmittingapparatus and a data transmitting method for transmitting music and/orvideo data, and more particularly to a reproducing system comprising aunit for reproducing music and/or data and a unit for externallyoutputting music and/or image, a reproducing method in such areproducing system, and a data transmitting apparatus and a datatransmitting method for transmitting music and/or video data to a unitfor externally outputting music and image.

BACKGROUND ART

There are systems for carrying out transmission/reception of data ofaudio and video (hereinafter referred to as A/V) (hereinafter referredto as A/V data) between equipments linked by digital network toreproduce such data on the real time basis. The system for manipulatingA/V equipment existing at a remote place to receive contents by monitoror speaker near at hand to reproduce it is an example of the systems asdescribed above. As an equipment which manipulates such A/V equipmentexisting at a remote place (hereinafter referred to as remote outputequipment), remote controller having speaker or earphone, etc. ismentioned. It should be noted that there are cases of only audio data,or cases of only video data as data caused to undergotransmission/reception.

In the case where packet communication is utilized for communication,the transmitting side encodes A/V data to divide it into frames.Further, the transmitting side supplements headers for exchanging dataon network to divided individual frames to transmit them ascommunication packet. In correspondence therewith, the receiving sideremoves the headers from the received communication packet to decode theremoved remaining data portion to reproduce it. By such a series ofprocessing, at the receiving side, it is possible to reproduce audio andvideo data on the basis of A/V data reproduced at the transmitting side.

Meanwhile, in such system, there are instances where information exceptfor A/V data is also caused to undergo transmission/reception together.For example, there is the case where user desires to recognize the stateof player by remote output equipment at a remote position whilereproducing music by player.

Here, as the player, there is mentioned a disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus having a function to reproduce recording medium,e.g., so-called CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or MD(Mini Disc), etc. In addition, as the state that user desires to know,there are mentioned title of tune that player is reproducing, playingremaining time of tune and/or internal state of player (e.g., playback(reproduction), double speed playback (reproduction), stop, temporarystop, etc.).

However, ordinarily, this function is available only in the system wherecommunication except for A/V data can be carried out in parallel. Inthis case, mechanism for carrying out transmission/reception ofinformation except for A/V data is independently defined to carry outcommunication in accordance with the mechanism. Further, it is necessaryto mount two communication protocols into the equipment.

For this reason, players designed in correspondence with onlycommunication protocol of A/V data in which such a definition is notcarried out in advance cannot send, on the real time basis, informationsuch as title of tune being reproduced, playing remaining time of tuneand/or internal state of player, etc. to remote output equipment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a reproducing system, areproducing method, a data transmitting apparatus and a datatransmitting method which can recognize, at remote output equipment,state of apparatus of the transmitting side which reproduces A/V data onthe real time basis.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a reproducing systemaccording to this invention comprises a reproducing unit includingpacket data generating means for allowing music and/or video datareproduced from a recording medium to be packet data so thatcommunication packet is provided, and for inserting additionalinformation into the communication packet, and transmitting means fortransmitting the communication packet outputted from the packet datagenerating means onto communication path. In addition, the reproducingsystem comprises an external output unit including receiving means forreceiving communication packet on communication path, data taking-outmeans for taking out additional information along with music and/orvideo data from the communication packet that the receiving means hasreceived, external output means for externally outputting music and/orimage on the basis of the music and/or video data that the datataking-out means has taken out, and operating means operative on thebasis of the additional information that the data taking-out means hastaken out.

In reproducing system having such configuration, the reproducing unit isoperative so that when music and/or video data reproduced from recordingmedium are caused to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided, additional information is inserted into communication packetby the packet data generating means, and communication packet outputtedfrom the packet data generating means is transmitted onto communicationpath by the transmitting means. The external output unit is operative sothat additional information is taken out by the data taking-out meanstogether with music and/or video data from communication packet that thereceiving means has received from on communication path, the externaloutput means externally outputs music and/or image on the basis of musicand/or video data that the data taking-out means has taken out, and theoperating means becomes operative on the basis of additional informationthat the data taking-out means has taken out.

Namely, the reproducing system includes additional information intocommunication packet used for transmission of music and/or video datafrom the reproducing unit during reproduction to thereby allow theoperating means of the external output unit to be operative on the basisof additional information within communication packet transmitted duringreproduction.

Moreover, in order to solve the above-described problems, a reproducingmethod according to this invention includes a reproduction transmittingstep of reproducing music and/or video data from a recording medium toallow the music and/or video data to be packet data so thatcommunication packet is provided, and of inserting additionalinformation into the communication packet to transmit the communicationpacket onto communication path, and an external output step of receivingthe communication packet transmitted onto the communication path at thereproduction transmitting step to take out additional informationtogether with the music and/or video data from the receivedcommunication packet to externally output music and/or image on thebasis of the music and/or video data which has been taken out, and ofoperating operating means on the basis of the additional information.

In such reproducing method, additional information is included intocommunication packet used for transmission of music and/or video datafrom the reproducing unit during reproduction to thereby operate theoperating means of the external output unit on the basis of additionalinformation within the communication packet transmitted duringreproduction.

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, a datatransmitting apparatus according to this invention comprises packet datagenerating means for allowing music and/or video data reproduced from arecording medium to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided and for inserting additional information into the communicationpacket, and transmitting means for transmitting the communication packetoutputted from the packet data generating means onto communication path.

The data transmitting apparatus having such configuration is operativeso that when music and/or video data reproduced from the recordingmedium is caused to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided, it inserts additional information into communication packet bythe packet data generating means to transmit the communication packetoutputted from the packet data generating means onto the communicationpath by the transmitting means.

Namely, the data transmitting apparatus transmits communication packetin the state where additional information is included into music and/orvideo data, and the external output unit externally outputs music and/orimage on the basis of the transmitted music and/or video data, andoperates the operating means on the basis of the additional information.

In addition, in order to solve the above-described problems, a datatransmitting method according to this invention includes a packet datageneration step of allowing music and/or video data reproduced from arecording medium to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided, and of inserting additional information into the communicationpacket, and a transmitting step of transmitting the communication packetoutputted at the packet data generation step onto transmission path.

By such data transmitting method, the data transmitting unit transmitscommunication packet in the state where additional information isincluded into music and/or video data, and the external output unitexternally outputs music and/or image on the basis of transmitted musicand/or video data, and operates operating means on the basis of theadditional information.

Still further objects of this invention and more practical meritsobtained by this invention will become more apparent from thedescription of the embodiment which will be given below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the configuration of a reproducingsystem shown as an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration ofreproduction player and remocon of the reproducing system shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a view showing data form used between the reproduction playerand the remocon of the reproducing system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processing atpacket processing unit of the reproduction player shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processing atpacket processing unit of the remocon shown in FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of this invention will now be described in detail withreference to the attached drawings. In the embodiment shown here, thisinvention is applied to a reproducing system, particularly portablereproducing system comprising a reproduction player exclusive forreproduction, and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to asremocon) for carrying out remote control of this reproduction player bywireless.

The reproducing system shown as this embodiment comprises, as shown inFIG. 1, a reproduction player 10 and a remocon 20. The reproductionplayer 10 is constituted as a unit of the side where recording medium isloaded in this system. This reproduction player 10 is caused to becompact and portable. As a recording medium that this reproductionplayer 10 reproduces, there is mentioned a recording medium adapted sothat music and/or video data (A/V data) is recorded. In more practicalsense, there are mentioned a disc-shaped recording medium such as theso-called CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MD (MiniDisc), etc., a tape-shaped recording medium, and/or a semiconductormemory caused to be in substantially thin plate form, etc.

On the other hand, the remocon 20 has a function to carry out remotecontrol of the reproduction player 10 by wireless, and has a function asan external output equipment which externally outputs music on the basisof music data, etc. reproduced at the reproduction player 10. In morepractical sense, this remocon 20 comprises a headphone 21 as externaloutput means. Thus, the remocon 20 constitutes headphone with remocon.

Namely, the above-described reproduction player 10 constitutes a portionfor reproducing music data recorded with respect to recording medium,and this remocon 20 constitutes an output unit which outputs music onthe basis of music data reproduced at the reproduction player 10.

Further, this remocon 20 comprises a display unit 22. The display unit22 is, e.g., liquid crystal display unit. The remocon 20 can displayvarious information on this display unit 22. As various information,there are mentioned information such as title of album, etc. Forexample, title name of such album is recorded with respect to recordingmedium as TOC (Table of Contents) data.

In addition, this remocon 20 comprises an antenna 23, and cantransmit/receive, by wireless, various information including music data,etc. between the remocon 20 and the reproduction player 10 similarlycomprising an antenna 11.

Here, as transmitting/receiving means by wireless carried out betweenequipments, there is mentioned the so-called Bluetooth, etc. Bluetoothis interface remarked in recent years as interface which permits digitalwireless communication by wireless between plural equipments, It is tobe noted that it is needless to say that wireless transmitting/receivingmeans is not limited to this Bluetooth in the embodiment of thisinvention.

As stated above, in the reproducing system comprising the reproductionplayer 10 and the remocon 20, the reproduction player 10 implements apredetermined processing such as Encode and/or conversion intocommunication packet data, etc. to music data reproduced from therecording medium to transmit the music data thus processed to theremocon 20 through the antenna 11 by wireless.

From the remocon 20, a control signal indicating that the reproductionplayer 10 starts reproduction of music data from the recording medium,etc. is transmitted. The remocon 20 receives data transmitted from thereproduction player 10 through the antenna 23 to implement apredetermined processing such as Decode, etc. to output it as music fromthe headphone 21.

The reproduction form in such music system is the same as the prior artone. However, the reproducing system to which this invention is appliedis characterized in that the remocon 20 can further display informationindicating the present operating state of the reproduction player 10,and/or information such as track No. of tune or title of tune that thereproduction player 10 is reproducing, or playing remaining time oftune, reproduction time, etc. (hereinafter referred to as tunereproduction information) on the display unit 22 on the real time basis.Here, as information indicating present operating state (hereinafterreferred to as operating state information), there is mentioned internalstate of the reproduction player 10 (e.g., playback (reproduction),double speed playback (reproduction), stop, temporary stop, etc.).

As stated above, the reproducing system to which this invention isapplied includes data, etc. for displaying operating state on thedisplay unit 22 into communication packet of music data alwaystransmitted from the reproduction player 10 to the remocon 20 duringreproduction of music, thereby permitting user to recognize operatingstate of the reproduction player 10 or reproduction state of tune at theremocon 20.

Namely, at the remocon 20, music data transmitted from the reproductionplayer 10 is outputted from the output unit 21 such as the headphone,and various information are displayed on the display unit 22 on thebasis of other data included or added into communication packet of thismusic data.

The portion to which this invention is applied and in which thisinvention is realized will now be described in more practical sense.FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the reproduction player 10 andthe remocon 20.

Here, the reproduction player 10 comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, a discreproducing unit 12, an encoder 13, a packet processing unit 14, aninformation management unit 15, and a transmitting unit 16. Thereproduction player 10 comprises the disc reproducing unit 12, etc., andis the example constituted as player for reproduction of music datarecorded on disc-shaped recording medium (hereinafter simply referred toas disc) such as CD, etc. On the other hand, the remocon 20 comprises,as shown in FIG. 2, a receiving unit 24, a packet processing unit 25, adecoder 26, an information management unit 27, output unit 21, and theabove-described display unit 22.

In this reproduction player 10, the disc reproducing unit 12 and theencoder 13 constitute reproducing means for reproducing music and/orvideo data from the recording medium, the packet processing unit 14constitutes packet data generating means adapted so that when such musicand/or video data that reproducing means has reproduced is caused to bepacket data so that communication packet is provided, it insertsadditional information into communication packet, and the transmittingunit 16 constitutes transmitting means for transmitting communicationpacket outputted from the packet processing unit 14 onto communicationpath.

Further, at the remocon 20, the receiving unit 24 constitutes receivingmeans for receiving communication packet on the communication path, andthe packet processing unit 25 functions as data taking-out means fortaking out additional information along with music and/or video datafrom communication packet that the receiving unit 24 has received. Inaddition, the output unit 21 constitutes external output means forexternally outputting music and/or image on the basis of music and/orvideo data that the packet processing unit 25 has taken out, and thedisplay unit 22 constitutes operating means operative on the basis ofadditional information that the packet processing unit 25 has taken out.

Processing procedure until music is reproduced by the reproductionplayer 10 and music is externally outputted by the remocon 20 will bedescribed below with respect to respective components of thereproduction player 10 and the remocon 20 shown as this embodiment.

In the reproduction player 10, the disc reproducing unit 12 reads outaudio data from disc. Moreover, the disc reproducing unit 12 reads outTOC (Table of Contents) data from the disc. In the TOC data, there areincluded information relating to music recorded on the disc, e.g., albumname, titles of respective tunes and playing times of respective tunes,etc. This TOC data is caused to undergo management at the informationmanagement unit 15 which will be described later in detail.

The encoder 13 implements a predetermined signal processing, etc. toaudio data which has been read out as stream from the disc reproducingunit 12. In more practical sense, the encoder 13 divides stream of audiodata as frame to supplement frame header, tag as occasion demands.

As a compressing technique of audio data in the encoder 13, e.g., MP3can be used. MP3 is one of compressing techniques of audio data inconformity with MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), and indicates MPEG1Audio Layer 3 in formal sense. This compressing system of MP3 ischaracterized in that data is compressed by making use of thecharacteristic of auditory sense of the human being of “minimum audiblelimit” and “masking effect”.

For example, in MP3, file format as shown in FIG. 3 is defined. File 90consists of header 91, audio data 92 and Tag 93. Here, in the header 91,there are stored, e.g., codec information, etc. relating to encodesystem, e.g., kind of CODEC (e.g., further finely classified kind inMPEG Audio), bit rate, sampling frequency and channel mode (e.g., modesuch as stereo or monaural, etc.), etc. Further, in the tag 93, thereare included TOC data such as name of tune, artist name, album name, ageand genre, etc.

Moreover, in the MP3, audio data of file 90 is partitioned every time toallow respective partitioned audio data caused to be in packet form tobe MPEG audio frame 100 to define frame format.

In frame header 101, information of this frame 100 is inserted similarlyto header 91 of file 90. For example, information of length within frameis also included. In addition, in the frame header 101, Private Bit thatuser can freely use is also included.

Here, information added to audio data 102 at the encoder 13 isinformation obtained from the information management unit 15. Theinformation management unit 15 operates in a manner described below.

The information management unit 15 carries out management of informationof TOC data which has been read out from the disc. Further, thisinformation management unit 15 also carries out management of operatingstate information indicating operating state of this reproduction player10 and/or tune reproduction information of No. etc. of track beingreproduced in addition to TOC data. As the operating state information,there are mentioned information such as playback (reproduction),temporary stop and/or fast feed, etc. of the reproduction player 10 asdescribed above.

For example, management information such as operating state informationand/or tune reproduction information, etc. which are caused to undergomanagement by the information management unit 15 are informationrealized by application which operates this reproducing system, and thismanagement information constitutes information peculiar to application.

Further, the information management unit 15 delivers various informationcaused to undergo management to packet processing unit 14 which will bedescribed later. In more practical sense, the information managementunit 15 sends out operating state information and tune reproductioninformation to the packet processing unit 14. For example, theinformation management unit 15 outputs these information at requiredtiming from the packet processing unit 14.

The encoder 13 divides audio data which has been read out from the discto output divided data to the packet processing unit 14 as frame inconformity with the above-described frame format.

The packet processing unit 14 mainly functions as a unit which addsheader for carrying out data communication to frame delivered from theencoder 13. Kind of header to be added is determined in dependency uponprotocol used in communication.

For example, in the case of real time streaming on internet protocol(IP), RTP (Real Time Transport Protocol)/UDP (User Datagram Protocol) ismentioned as protocol. Here, real time streaming is an operation tocarry out transmission/reception of data while carrying out encode ordecode operation of data.

As shown in FIG. 3, the packet processing unit 14 adds UDP header 111and RTP header 112 to data (frame data in this example) 100 outputtedfrom the encoder 13 to generate communication packet 110.

Here, RTP header 112 serves to give preliminary information in order topermit the receiving side of data to reproduce stream at correct orderand timing. Namely, the RTP header 112 constitutes auxiliary header. Inmore practical sense, in the RTP header 112, there are includedinformation such as payload type, order number (order to be reproduced)and time mark (time when reproduction is carried out), etc. The payloadtype is kind of codec included as data, MPEG Audio, PCM (Pulse CodeModulation), Audio, and/or the so-called G. 721, etc. In addition, inthe RTP header 112, Marker Bit that user can freely use is alsoincluded.

UDP header 111 is header indispensable for carrying out communication oninternet protocol. In more practical sense, in the UDP header 111,information such as transmit source data 121, transmit destination data122, total data length 123 and/or check sum 124, etc. are included.Here, the total data length 123 indicates length of data succeeding tothe UDP header 111. In addition, the check sum 124 is information forchecking at the communication packet receiving side whether or notcommunication error takes place.

The packet processing unit 14 adds the UDP header 111 and the RTP header112 to frame data 100 outputted from the encoder 13, and adds additionalinformation 113 succeeding to the data 100 as shown in FIG. 3 as anotherprocessing.

Here, additional information 113 that the packet processing unit 14 addsto the frame data 100 is operating state information indicatingoperating state of the reproduction player 10, and is informationobtained from the information management unit 15. For example, morepractical form of additional information added after the frame data 100is such that additional information length is indicated by 113 ₁, andthe portion succeeding thereto is caused to be data 113 ₂ includingheader.

For example, this additional information 113 is information displayed onthe display unit 22 of the remocon 20, and is information indicatingtrack No. of tune that the reproduction player 10 is reproducing atpresent, title of tune, playing remaining time of tune, and/or internalstate of player (e.g., playback (reproduction), double speed playback(reproduction), stop, temporary stop, etc), etc.

Moreover, in the case where additional information 113 is added to framedata 100, the reproduction player 10 also sends information indicatingpresence or absence of that addition to the remocon 20. In this case,the reproduction player 10 uses, e.g., Private Bit which is redundantbit within frame header 101, or Marker Bit which is redundant bit withinRTP header 112.

Here, explanation will be given in connection with the case wherePrivate Bit is used to notify presence or absence of additionalinformation. For example, when application is implemented, sucharrangement is made in advance. Thus, at the receiving side, it ispossible to recognize in advance the place (portion) where informationnotifying presence or absence of additional information is stored.

In more practical sense, arrangement is made such that in the case wherePrivate Bit is “1”, additional information exists, and in the case wherePrivate Bit is “0”, additional information does not exist. Namely, atthe receiving side, if Private Bit is “1”, it is seen that additionalinformation 113 of additional data length 113, and data 113 ₂ includingheader is added.

At step S1, the packet processing unit 14 discriminates whether or notframe data 100 is transmitted from the encoder 13. In the case whereframe data 100 is delivered from the encoder 13, the packet processingunit 14 first adds UDP header 111 and RTP header 112 to the frame data100 at step S2.

Then, at step S3, the packet processing unit 14 discriminates whether ornot additional information added after the frame data 100 exists. Here,in the case where additional information added after frame does notexist, processing by the packet processing unit 14 jumps to step S6 tocalculate total data length of UDP packet. In more practical sense, thepacket processing unit 14 calculates sum of data lengths of RTP header112 and frame data 100.

Moreover, in the case where information added after frame exists at thestep S3, processing by the packet processing unit 14 proceeds to step S4to add additional information (information data). In more practicalsense, the packet processing unit 14 adds information to be transmittedto the remocon 20 of information caused to undergo management at theinformation management unit 15 to the portion after frame data 100 asshown in FIG. 3. The additional information is added to the portionafter frame data 100, and actual information 113 ₂ is added in a mannersucceeding to additional data length 113 ₁ indicating length ofadditional data.

At the subsequent step S5, the packet processing unit 14 raises (sets)Private Bit in the frame header 101. Namely, in the case whereadditional information is added after frame data, flag is raised (set).Thus, the remocon 20 serving as the receiving side of communicationpacket 110 can recognize additional information 113 added after framedata 100.

It is to be noted that while it is not limited that information whichnotifies presence or absence of additional information is realized byusing Private Bit which is the so-called reserve bit as described above,such information may be also realized by using marker bit which isreserve bit provided in other area, or provided at other stage of dataformation.

As described above, communication packet is formed via the packetprocessing unit 14. The reproduction player 10 sends out communicationpacket generated in this way to actual communication path through thetransmitting unit 16 including the antenna 11. In the case whereBluetooth is employed, the transmitting unit 16 implements base bandprocessing and RF processing, etc. corresponding thereto.

On the other hand, at the remocon 20, radio wave from the reproductionplayer 10 is received at the receiving unit 24 including the antenna 23.The receiving unit 24 carries out demodulation processing of receivedsignal. Thus, at the receiving unit 24, data which has the same form ascommunication packet generated at the packet processing unit 14 of thereproduction player 10 is restored. Thereafter, the receiving unit 24outputs data which has been caused to undergo demodulation processing tothe packet processing unit 25 of the succeeding stage.

The packet processing unit 25 implements a processing for taking outframe data (or referred to as audio frame as occasion may demand) andadditional information from the received communication packet. Thepacket processing unit 25 outputs the frame data which has been takenout to the decoder 26. In addition, the packet processing unit 25outputs additional information which has been taken out to theinformation management unit 27.

FIG. 5 shows a more practical example of a series of processingprocedure at the packet processing unit 25.

At step S11, the packet processing unit 25 discriminates whether or notcommunication packet is received. In the case where communication packetis delivered from the receiving unit 24, the packet processing unit 25checks header of communication packet at step S12. In more practicalsense, the packet processing unit 25 compares total data length 123 andcheck sum 124 stored in UDP header 111, and RTP header 112, frame data100 and additional information 113 succeeding thereto to examine whetheror not communication is correctly carried out.

Then, the packet processing unit 25 examines order number of RTP header112 to rearrange received communication packets so that correct order isprovided when frame data 100 is reproduced at the decoder 26.

Moreover, the packet processing unit 25 examines payload type of RTPheader 112 to analyse frame header 101 in accordance therewith. Thus,the packet processing unit 25 is operative so that when payload type isMPEG Audio, it judges that frame header 101 of MPEG Audio is successiveafter RTP header 112 to carry out corresponding processing.

At step S13, the packet processing unit 25 examines presence or absenceof additional information. In more practical sense, the packetprocessing unit 25 examines the state of Private Bit of frame header 101on the basis of arrangement determined in advance. It is discriminatedthat in the case where Private Bit is “1”, additional information exits,and in the case where Private Bit is “0”, additional information doesnot exist.

In the case where Private Bit is caused to be “1” so that additionalinformation exists, the packet processing unit 25 extracts additionalinformation 113 from frame data 100 at step S14.

As a technique for extracting this additional information 113, in morepractical sense, the packet processing unit 25 first calculates lengthof frame data 100 succeeding to RTP header 112 on the basis of dataincluded in frame header 101. Thus, start position of additionalinformation is determined. Length of additional information isdetermined as difference obtained by subtracting sum of data length offrame data 100 and data length of RTP header 112 from total data length(data) 123 stored in UDP header 111.

Thus, it becomes possible to specify position of additional information113 within communication packet 110 and that data length. For thisreason, extraction of additional information 113 from frame data 100 canbe made. Further, the packet processing unit 25 outputs obtainedadditional information 113 to the information management unit 27.

Moreover, the packet processing unit 25 extracts additional information113 thereafter to remove RTP header 112 from the remaining data portionconsisting of RTP header 112 and frame data to take out frame data 100which is audio frame. The packet processing unit 25 outputs obtainedframe data 100 to the decoder 26.

The decoder 26 decodes the frame data 100 to output it to the outputunit 21. The output unit 21 serving as voice output means such asheadphone, etc. outputs music decoded by the decoder 26 to the external.

Thus, additional information and/or music (tune) information, etc. areinputted to the information management unit 27. From the display unit22, information caused to undergo management at the informationmanagement unit 27 is outputted.

For example, album name being reproduced, title of tune and playing timeof tune, etc. are displayed on the display unit 22. In more practicalsense, track No. of tune being reproduced, title of tune and/or playingremaining time of tune, etc. are displayed on the display unit 22 on thebasis of tune reproduction information. In addition, the operating stateof the reproduction player 10 such as playback (reproduction), doblespeed playback (reproduction), stop and/or temporary stop, etc. isdisplayed on the real time basis on the basis of the operating stateinformation.

It is to be noted that while explanation has been given in connectionwith the fact that reserve bit of frame header 101 or RTP header 112 isused in order to notify presence or absence of additional information tothe remocon 20 serving as the receiving side, the remocon 20 may alsodetect presence or absence of additional information without usingreserve bit.

In this case, for example, at the packet processing unit 25 in theremocon 20, difference between total data length (data) 123 included incommunication packet header such as UDP header 111, etc. and framelength (data) calculated from data included in frame header 101 of framedata 100 is examined. Because this difference result indicates presenceor absence of additional information, the packet processing unit 25 canexamine difference of necessary data length without using reserve bit todetect presence or absence of additional information. The packetprocessing unit 25 carries out extraction of additional information in amanner as described above on the basis of result of presence or absenceof detected additional information.

As described above, the reproducing system can output music reproducedat the reproduction player 10 from the output unit 21 such as theheadphone of the remocon 20, display name of tune being reproduced, anddisplay operating state information or tune reproduction information atthe reproduction player 10 on the real time basis on the display unit22.

Thus, the reproducing system sends additional information along withmusic data from the reproduction player 10, thereby making it possibleto notify, to user, on the real time basis, information such as trackNo. of tune being reproduced, title of tune, playing remaining time,etc. and operating state of the reproduction player 10 (playback(reproduction), doble speed playback (reproduction), etc. stop,temporary stop and fast feed, etc.), etc.

Moreover, in this reproducing system, even if information thatapplication desires to utilize is not defined within frame of music dataor in header added at the time of transmission, it is possible totransmit and receive this information.

Namely, in the case where application which operates this reproducingsystem is provided after frame for data transmission or header added atthe time of transmission is defined (such case is rather general), thisinvention is particularly effective.

Further, in the reproducing system, as the premise for realizingoperation to which this invention is applied as described above,addition of information when header is supplemented to frame data togenerate communication packet data and/or arrangement of format oftechnique for addition of additional information, etc. are thecondition. In this case, it is possible to realize a function totransmit and receive additional information without carrying out changeof basic communication protocol, change of format of frame andcommunication packet header, and change of basic function at the encoder13 or the decoder 26, etc.

Namely, the reproducing system realizes, on the display unit 22 of theremocon 20, display of operating state information or tune reproductioninformation at the reproduction player 10 without complicating procedureand/or structure of the apparatus.

Further, when music is externally outputted from the output unit 21 ofthe remocon 20, frame data 100 is transmitted at all times ascommunication packet 110 from the reproduction player 20 to the remocon20 so that additional information 113 is added to this frame data 100.Namely, additional information is added to frame data 100 at all times.

Further, here, addition of additional information may be carried outonly as occasion demands. Namely, in a series of communicationprocessing during reproduction of tune, there may be cases whereadditional information is transmitted from the reproduction player 10 tothe remocon 20, and there may be cases where such additional informationis not transmitted. Thus, the remocon 20 does not read out additionalinformation at all times.

Further, while explanation has been given by taking the reproducingsystem for reproducing music as an example in this embodiment, it isneedless to say that this invention is not limited to the reproducingsystem for music. For example, this invention can be also applied tosystems for handling image and music. Further, this invention can bealso applied to a recording system for recording information, and arecording/reproducing system for carrying out recording andreproduction.

Further, while explanation has been given by taking the example of thesystem in which MPEG, etc. has been already applied as protocol andexplanation has been given by taking the example of Bluetooth withrespect to communication in this embodiment, this invention is notlimited to such implementation, but can be also applied to apparatusesor systems in which other protocol and/or communication system areemployed.

In addition, explanation has been given in this embodiment in connectionwith the case where additional information is information indicatingoperating state such as playback (reproduction) or temporary stop, etc.at the reproduction player 10, this invention is not limited to suchimplementation. Namely, it is sufficient that, e.g., additionalinformation is at least information which can be acquired at thereproduction player 10. In more practical sense, additional informationmay be information, etc. peculiar to application provided for operatingthis reproducing system.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In accordance with the reproducing system according to this invention,the reproducing unit allows reproduced music and/or video data to bepacket data so that communication packet is provided, and insertsadditional information into the communication packet to transmit it, andthe external output unit externally outputs music and/or image on thebasis of received music and video data, and can operate operating meanson the basis of additional information inserted into communicationpacket.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A reproducing system comprising: areproducing unit configured to reproduce content data stored in astorage medium, and a remote control unit; the reproducing unitcomprising: a stream generating unit that generates a stream from thecontent data stored in the storage medium; an encoded unit that dividesthe stream into a frame including a frame header, wherein the frameheader includes information on the length of the frame; a packet datagenerating unit configured to generate a communication packet includingthe frame, append additional information to the frame, and include anadditional header including the total data length of the communicationpacket in the packet, wherein the additional information indicates atleast time information corresponding to a reproduction time, and atransmitting unit configured to transmit the communication packetoutputted from the packet data generated unit onto a communication path;and the remote control unit comprising: a receiving unit configured toreceive the communication packet on the communication path, a datataking-out configured to take out the additional information from thecommunication packet using the frame length information, and configuredto take out the frame, a decoding unit for decoding the frame to producean audio signal; an output unit configured to externally output theaudio signal to a speaker, earphone, or headphone, and a display unitfor displaying the reproduction time on the basis of the additionalinformation in real time with the output audio signal after the takingof the additional information out of the communication packet using theframe length information.
 2. The reproducing system as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the additional information comprises at least one ofoperating state information relating to operation of the reproducingunit and information relating to data that the reproducing unit isreproducing.
 3. The reproducing system as set forth in claim 2, whereinthe display unit displays at least one of the operating stateinformation and information relating to data that the reproducing unitis reproducing.
 4. The reproducing system as set forth in claim 1,wherein the remote control unit comprises a control unit to carry out atleast reproduction control of the reproducing unit.
 5. The reproducingsystem as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reproducing unit uses aredundant bit in which user use is permitted within the communicationpacket to indicate presence or absence of the additional information,and wherein the remote control unit detects presence or absence of theadditional information from the redundant bit of the communicationpacket to take out the additional information by the data taking-outunit on the basis of the detection result.
 6. The reproducing system asset forth in claim 1, wherein the data taking-out unit detects presenceor absence of the additional information on the basis of difference offrame length information from the total data length to take out theadditional information on the basis of the detection result.
 7. Areproducing method comprising: generating a stream from content datastored in a storage medium at a reproducing unit; dividing the streaminto a frame including a frame header, wherein the frame header includesinformation on the length of the frame; appending additional informationto the frame, wherein the additional information indicates at least timeinformation corresponding to a reproduction time; generating acommunication packet including the frame and the additional information;including an additional header including the total data length of thecommunication packet in the packet; transmitting the communicationpacket onto a communication path; receiving the communication packettransmitted on the communication path at a remote control unit; removingthe additional information from the received communication packet usingthe frame length information; removing the frame from the receivedcommunication packet; decoding the frame to produce an audio signal;outputting an audio signal on the basis of the reproduced content datato a speaker, earphone, or headphone; and displaying the reproductiontime on the basis of the additional information in real time with theoutput audio signal after the taking of the additional information outof the communication packet using the frame length information.
 8. Thereproducing method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the additionalinformation comprises at least one of operating state informationrelating to operation of the reproducing unit and information relatingto data that the reproducing unit is reproducing.
 9. A data transmittingapparatus for transmitting, to a remote control unit, a communicationpacket such that the remote control unit can display the reproductiontime on the basis of additional information in real time with an outputaudio signal after the additional information is taken out of thecommunication packet using frame length information, the datatransmitting apparatus comprising: a stream generating unit thatgenerates a stream from the content data stored in the storage medium;an encoding unit that divides the stream into a frame including a frameheader, wherein the frame header includes information on the length ofthe frame; a packet data generating unit configured to generate thecommunication packet including the frame, append additional informationto the frame, and include an additional header including the total datalength of the communication packet in the packet, wherein the additionalinformation indicates at least time information corresponding to areproduction time, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit thecommunication packet outputted from the packet data generating unit ontoa communication path.
 10. The data transmitting apparatus as set forthin claim 9, wherein the additional information comprises at least one ofoperating state information relating to operation and informationrelating to data being reproduced.
 11. The data transmitting apparatusas set forth in claim 10, wherein the remote control unit furthercomprises, a display unit for displaying information, and wherein thedisplay unit displays at least one of the operating state informationand information relating to data being reproduced.
 12. The datatransmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the remotecontrol unit comprises a control unit, and wherein at least reproductioncontrol of the reproduced content data is carried out by the controlunit.
 13. The data transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 9,wherein a redundant bit in which user use is permitted within thecommunication packet is used to indicate presence or absence of theadditional information, and wherein the remote control unit detectspresence or absence of the additional information from the redundant bitof the communication packet to take out the additional information bythe data taking-out unit on the basis of the detection result.
 14. Thedata transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the remotecontrol unit detects presence or absence of the additional informationon the basis of difference of frame length information from the totaldata length to take out the additional information on the basis of thedetection result.
 15. A data transmitting method of transmitting, to aremote control unit, a communication packet such that the remote controlunit can display the reproduction time on the basis of additionalinformation in real time with an output audio signal after theadditional information is taken out of the communication packet usingframe length information, the data transmitting method comprising:generating a stream from content data stored in a storage medium;dividing the stream into a frame including a frame header, wherein theframe header includes the frame length information; appending additionalinformation to the frame, wherein the additional information indicatesat least time information corresponding to a reproduction time;generating the communication packet to include the frame and theadditional information; including an additional header to the packetincluding the total data length of the communication packet; andtransmitting the communication packet onto a communication path.